Boysenberry glazed salmon is one of more than 75 boysenberry-inspired dishes, desserts and drinks only available during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival March 29 through April 28 were on display and available to taste at a special event Tuesday.
Buena Park on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

But the truth is with more than 75 Knott’s Boysenberry Festival food and beverage items to choose from, the toughest part is deciding what to try, especially when it comes to new offerings.

“It’s really hard for me to tell you which one is my favorite,” Knott’s executive chef Bobby Obezo said. “We came out with such amazing plates — all these items, my mouth gets watery. We did tastings and these were the ones that made it.”

Ready to sample some flavors? Here you go:

1. Jambalaya

Made with chicken, boysenberry sausage, bell peppers, and white rice, it’s expected to be one of the most popular dishes this year.

“I like the jambalaya,” said Laura Brubaker, director of food and beverage. “I think the sausage and chicken is perfect, and it really compliments the rice.”

Boysenberry chili in a bread bowl is one of more than 75 boysenberry-inspired dishes, desserts and drinks only available during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival March 29 through April 28 were on display and available to taste at a special event Tuesday.
Buena Park on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

Knott’s Berry Farm executive chef Bobby Obeza and a large sandwich of pork filet with bacon, onions, jalapenos and boysenberry sauce, one of more than 75 boysenberry-inspired dishes, desserts and drinks only available during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival March 29 through April 28 were on display and available to taste at a special event Tuesday.
Buena Park on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

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Pot roast with boysenberry mashed potatoes is one of more than 75 boysenberry-inspired dishes, desserts and drinks only available during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival March 29 through April 28 were on display and available to taste at a special event Tuesday.
Buena Park on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

Laura Brubaker, Food and Beverage Director at Knott’s Berry Farm holds a pulled pork tostada with boysenberry sauce, one of more than 75 boysenberry-inspired dishes, desserts and drinks only available during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival March 29 through April 28 were on display and available to taste at a special event Tuesday.
Buena Park on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

Boysenberry macaroni and cheese is one of more than 75 boysenberry-inspired dishes, desserts and drinks only available during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival March 29 through April 28 were on display and available to taste at a special event Tuesday.
Buena Park on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

Boysenberry glazed salmon is one of more than 75 boysenberry-inspired dishes, desserts and drinks only available during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival March 29 through April 28 were on display and available to taste at a special event Tuesday.
Buena Park on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

A pulled pork mini tostada with boysenberry sauce is one more than 75 boysenberry-inspired dishes, desserts and drinks only available during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival March 29 through April 28 were on display and available to taste at a special event Tuesday.
Buena Park on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

Jose Saldana, sous chef, pours boysenberry cream on one of more than 75 boysenberry-inspired dishes, desserts and drinks only available during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival March 29 through April 28 were on display and available to taste at a special event Tuesday.
Buena Park on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

Chicken and flank steak skeweres with boysenberry sauce is one of more than 75 boysenberry-inspired dishes, desserts and drinks only available during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival March 29 through April 28 were on display and available to taste at a special event Tuesday in Buena Park on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

Boysenberry boba is one of more than 75 boysenberry-inspired dishes, desserts and drinks only available during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival March 29 through April 28 were on display and available to taste at a special event Tuesday.
Buena Park on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

A chef brushes boysenberry butter on a piece of corn on the cob, one of more than 75 boysenberry-inspired dishes, desserts and drinks only available during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival March 29 through April 28 were on display and available to taste at a special event Tuesday.
Buena Park on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

Elote with boysenberry butter and boysenberry tortilla chips is one of more than 75 boysenberry-inspired dishes, desserts and drinks only available during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival March 29 through April 28 were on display and available to taste at a special event Tuesday.
Buena Park on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

Boysenberry cinnamon-sugar chips with boysenberry ice cream, one of more than 75 boysenberry-inspired dishes, desserts and drinks only available during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival March 29 through April 28 were on display and available to taste at a special event Tuesday.
Buena Park on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

A key lime boysenberry tart, one of more than 75 boysenberry-inspired dishes, desserts and drinks only available during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival March 29 through April 28 were on display and available to taste at a special event Tuesday.
Buena Park on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

Boysenberry frosted cookies are just one of more than 75 boysenberry-inspired dishes, desserts and drinks only available during the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival March 29 through April 28 were on display and available to taste at a special event Tuesday.
Buena Park on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)

Both Obezo and Brubaker think the boysenberry pot roast served over boysenberry mashed potatoes with a side of roasted carrot will be a hit. The meat melts in your mouth and can easily be eaten with just a fork.

3. Boysenberry chili in a boysenberry sourdough bread bowl

And then there’s the boysenberry chili served in a boysenberry sourdough bread bowl.

“I also wanted some ‘wows’ so I thought a lot about the chili. Our homemade chili is very good with boysenberry in it, but how great would it be to make a boysenberry sourdough bread bowl?” Brubaker said. “We also, here at Knott’s, want to make sure that you’re walking away so full, and you will be.”

4. Boysenberry glazed salmon

Brubaker said consideration was also given to items that would be bright and refreshing, like the boysenberry glazed salmon. Served on a bed of mixed greens topped with boysenberry vinaigrette, the dish is a light and healthy choice.

5. Boysenberry lemonade

The boysenberry lemonade, an annual favorite, returns this year with an update. It is light, not too sweet and now boasts a sprig of basil for an extra touch of freshness, Brubaker said.

6. Elote

Last year, there were long lines for the elote, grilled corn on the cob. Slathered in boysenberry butter, mayonnaise and cotija cheese, it was a sweet dish, but this year it has an added coating of boysenberry tortilla chip crumbles, which also give it a crunch.

As for desserts, Brubaker’s favorite new treat is the boysenberry key lime tart

“This year we created the boysenberry key lime tart — delicious. The boysenberries are more on the bottom and the lime really comes through. The lime can be very tart and the boysenberry gives it a nice little sweet to break it up,” Brubaker said.

Knott’s knows how to do pulled pork, but instead of simply serving it on a bun with boysenberry barbecue sauce it gets a new take for the fest. The crunch of the tostada and coleslaw nicely enfold the tender pork, and the taste combination is sure to make it a favorite.

Earlier this year, a prospective chef auditioned to be part of the food team with his grilled boysenberry barbecue chicken skewer creation, Burbaker said. He got the job, and his dish was so good that it made the festival menu.

“If you’re going to try to come just one day and do it all I would try to avoid the big bready things, the sausage on the bun or the chili in the bread bowl. I would try the salmon salad, some of the meats. I would do the pot roast for sure. And bring a friend,” Brubaker said.

Food and drink items may be purchased a la carte or try eight tastes from a selection of 14 items with a tasting card for $35.

Knott’s Berry Farm’s Boysenberry Festival will run daily March 29-April 28 and is included with park admission. It also features live entertainment, an art exhibit, a craft fair and more. For more information, go to www.knotts.com.

Michelle Mills has been an entertainment and features reporter for the Southern California News Group since 1999. She has interviewed such notables as Weird Al Yankovic, Glen Campbell, Alice Cooper, Debbie Allen, Ernest Borgnine (during an earthquake) and Adam Young (Owl City). She was the 31st Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade Queen reigning 2007-2009. She is a professional belly dancer (swordwork is her specialty) and also studies Polynesian and Tahitian dance.